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$565 million Port Hedland investment supports local construction material suppliers

Port Hedland

The Australian Government is investing $565 million to support common user port upgrades in the Pilbara, promoting local employment opportunities for major construction works.

Work is now underway on a major project that will expand the export and import capacity at the Port of Port Hedland – unlocking trade and investment opportunities, creating hundreds of new jobs and helping drive Australia’s Net Zero future.

Chief among the announcement, is the announcement that Pilbara-based businesses will benefit from the first seawall contract, with 90 per cent of materials and suppliers to be sourced locally within the region, and additional sub-contracting and labour opportunities on offer.

This will include partnerships with First Nations businesses and economic opportunities for communities across the north-west.

WA Premier Mark McGowan spoke on the benefits to the local economy and employment opportunities the grant will create.

“The Pilbara has been at the heart of our nation’s economic strength for decades,” McGowan said, “generating wealth for the entire country and supporting thousands of jobs across Western Australia.”

“This port expansion will help to position Port Hedland at the forefront of the future green industries that will drive our State’s economy for decades to come.

“We’re investing in projects to diversify our economy and create local jobs right across the State.”

The project aims to deliver new multi-user facilities and berths that will help diversify trade within the Pilbara region and support the growth of renewable industries in Australia and overseas.

This includes increasing the capacity to export battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates, as well as import renewable energy infrastructure including wind turbines and blades. It will also support the rapid growth of direct shipping services to the Pilbara.

“Investment in good infrastructure opens doors and opportunities for businesses and communities, and that’s exactly what this project is all about,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King said.

“By making use of local expertise and materials for the first seawall, this project will drive a real short-term employment and economic boost while delivering lasting infrastructure that will continue to benefit the region well into the future.”

Growing the capacity of Pilbara Ports has been identified by Infrastructure Australia as a national infrastructure priority.

The first stage of works on the project will construct two seawalls and a new causeway, which will connect the wharf to the proposed logistics hub, with MGN Civil awarded the contract to complete the first of the seawalls, with a tender to soon be released for the delivery of the second.

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